Dad's anger at benefits delay

A FELINFOEL dad claims he and his son were forced to spend Christmas with no electricity after £900 in benefits failed to be paid.

Frederick Arthur Nurse, of Bryn Siriol, said a delay in Employment and Support Allowance dating back to November meant he and his 11-year-old son David were unable to afford power, let alone exchange gifts.

"It was a miserable Christmas," Mr Nurse said.

Boring

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"It was very boring as we had no TV and I couldn't buy my boy presents or anything like that.

"It is absolutely freezing at home and we have got no food at all.

"We have to rely on my sister Nancy for what we get, and she has not got much either."

The 59-year-old claims he has submitted the relevant medical certificates detailing that he suffers with arthritis and angina, and says he does not understand the delays.

He has now sought the help of solicitors in a bid to resolve the situation.

"I'm hoping to have my money back," he said.

"I want it all back so we can just improve our lives.

"It is only going to get worse if it goes on for much longer."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: "Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) assesses someone's capacity for work and looks at what a person can do because we know conditions affect different people in different ways.

"A decision on whether someone is well enough to work is taken following a thorough face to face assessment and after consideration of all the supporting medical evidence provided by the claimant.

Effective

"We have made considerable improvements to the Work Capability Assessment to make it fairer and more effective.

"If someone disagrees with the outcome of their claim, they have the right to submit new evidence and appeal.

"We unable to talk about individual cases."